Stuart Naismith

I have always been fascinated by space since seeing the remastered Star Wars films as a child, and that has always stayed with me, although I never pursued any sciences academically. During my PGDE primary course, I was invited by one of my lecturers to attend an astrobiology session at Edinburgh University, showcasing how this concept could be used in the primary setting. Since this involved space, I was hooked, instantly. I began looking into other areas of science, and working on projects with the aforementioned lecturer. I took all of this into my first primary classroom, and from there, I've continued to develop my passion for STEM. However, I owe my beginnings in this direction to Margaret Ritchie, a lecturer who saw my potential and encouraged me. I aspire to be as influential to my students as she was to me.

During high school, I wanted to be a music teacher. I was very involved in the music department, undertaking Advanced Higher Music, and playing the tuba and bass guitar in various school bands. The head of the music department, Albert Sloan, had a huge passion for his subject but also in supporting pupils to bring out the best in them. Mr Sloan, to me, was the perfect teacher, and I loved being in his classes and under his instruction in the school bands. Although I ultimately took a different path with music, focusing on the practical and management side, when I did decide to become a primary teacher, Mr Sloan was in my corner again, writing a supporting statement for my teaching application. His personality, his passion for his subject and his dedication to his students continue to be an inspiration for the type of teacher I wish to be.

My family are my number one motivation. I wish to inspire a love of lifelong learning in them and to nurture their curiosity. They are not yet within the school system, however by helping to promote STEM and being involved with different organisations, hopefully, there will be a positive impact for the experiences they get at school.

My second main inspiration is the people I am able to engage with and excite with STEM education, whether that is in my class or across social media with STEM with Mr N. Seeing the understanding dawn in a pupil's eyes or watching them connect their learning and draw conclusions based on what you've been teaching is always a great moment. It is a privileged position I hold, being responsible for these young minds, and it is not one I take for granted.

I've had a lot of recent highlights in my career that it is hard to narrow it down. Delivering science assemblies has been a very rewarding experience, being able to deliver experiments to the full school and hear their amazement at some of the activities. Receiving the Primary Science Teacher Award 2022 from the PSTT, and then the Excellence in Primary Education Award 2023 from the RSC are both incredible highlights, along with my video series, STEM with Mr N, being a finalist in the Teach Primary Awards 2023 (results pending).

Personally, my highlights are marrying my wife, and welcoming our three beautiful children to the world. No matter what the day brings, everything is better when they are around.

Probably the most challenging experience I've had recently is a combination of personal and career. Although I've become much better with my filming and editing processes for STEM with Mr N, this still takes time. Trying to fit in my dedication to these videos, my work as a teacher, and time with my family can sometimes be a bit of a juggle and have me burning the candle at both ends. However, my family take priority, and we make it all work.

In the primary setting, where most primary teachers don't have a science background, teamwork is important for being able to share ideas, team teach or even class swap to ensure the pupils are receiving quality science instruction.

As a STEM-focused educator, teamwork also allows me to network with other educators in similar situations to myself and, again, share ideas, experiences and learn different ways of doing things. It is inspiring to have discussions with others working in STEM education and see how they adapt to different circumstances, overcome challenges, or find interesting ways to link topics together. Lifelong learning does not need to be done in isolation, and teamwork helps us all flourish and deliver the best outcomes for the pupils in our care.

I have been lucky enough to have a very supportive wife. From keeping the household running while I undertook the PGDE to staying up late helping prepare resources, she got behind me every step of my journey in education.

During my probation year, I had a very supportive mentor in Laura Alcorn and a head teacher in Lorraine McBride, who afforded me the freedom to try new things in the school and provided me with opportunities to further develop my STEM education skills. My current head teacher, Alison McFarlane, is also on board with my ideas for developing STEM in the school and encourages me to seek opportunities to further my skills.

Last but not least, all of the pupils, parents, and fellow educators who subscribe to STEM with Mr N on YouTube, or follow on other social media, allow me to have a privileged position in assisting them with their own continued development.

Oh - the element of surprise! However, when it comes to proper elements, there are two I cannot choose between: nitrogen - it features on the logo for my video channel, STEM with Mr N, since its chemical symbol is N; palladium - this is what my wedding ring is made from, so for sentimental reasons I like this element.

Please do not hesitate to nominate colleagues who you believe are going above and beyond. As educators, none of us are seeking any glory; however, it is also important to recognise the dedication of those within our profession when there is an opportunity, and the RSC Education prizes are a great way to honour those colleagues going that extra mile.